Australia's Opposition Labor Party promises to train Pacific armies if elected

AUSTRALIA: Australia’s Opposition Labor party promised Tuesday to establish a Pacific defense school to train neighboring armies in response to China’s potential military presence on the Solomon Islands.

The school was among a range of measures that the center-left Labor Party has promised to increase Australia’s engagement in its region if the opposition wins elections on May 21.

Labor Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Penny Wong said Australia needed to restore its place as the partner of choice in the Pacific region.

The Australia-Pacific Defense School would deepen institutional links between the Australian Defense Force and its regional counterparts while supporting the region’s needs, a policy statement said.

Opposition Defense Spokesperson Brendan O’Connor said Australia currently only provided some training for its neighbors’ commissioned military officers and none for lower ranks.

“In recent years, this government has been derelict when it comes to its relationship with … Pacific island countries,” O’Connor said.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison stood by his Government’s record during its nine years in office, saying Australia provided the Pacific with A$1.8 billion ($1.3 billion) a year in aid.

Australia was the only country in the world that had a diplomatic mission in each of the countries that make up the Pacific Islands Forum and has provided every country with naval patrol boats.

– JAPAN TODAY